Asbestos in Electric Wiring Exposure and Risks
Electrical wiring is found in every facility that has electricity. Almost all electric wiring is insulated by electrical cloth, a fire and heat-resistant material wrapped around metal wires to prevent fire. If an electrical short occurs resulting in a spark, the spark would be dampened by the electrical cloth and die out.
Before the 1980s, asbestos was a common ingredient in the cloth used for electric wiring. Asbestos is fire, heat and water-resistant, making it an incredibly durable material. Because it could be mined across the country, it became cost-effective and easy to source as well.
Unfortunately, scientists discovered that asbestos wasn’t the miracle material that many thought it was. Asbestos used in electric wiring poses a significant and serious health concern that has killed many Americans and electrical workers throughout the world.
Even once the danger of asbestos was discovered, it still took over a decade for American companies to discontinue using asbestos products like electric wiring.
The electric wiring insulation manufactured today does not use asbestos. However, many homes and facilities constructed in decades past will still contain asbestos, presenting an ongoing danger to the people who work and live in these buildings.